Blacktown CIty has stretched their lead at the top of the National Premier Leagues NSW ladder and have sent a warning to the other 11 clubs with a hard-fought 2-0 win against APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Lambert Park on Good Friday.
A second half stunner from Joey Gibbs and a cool finish from Devante Clut was the difference as Blacktown City maintained its unbeaten run to start the season – another key stat has been that Mark Crittenden’s men have yet to concede in 2018.
It was a tough day at the office for APIA who dominated the opening 45 minutes of the match but struggled in front of goal despite a glut of chances.
The defeat is the first of the season for Billy McColl’s side who had started the season with back to back wins.
Blacktown City had the best of the early chances with the pace of Charles Mendy proving too much for the APIA defence. A cutting pass from Clut hit Mendy in stride in the eighth minute but the ever reliable Ivan Necevski was able to block the shot.
APIA’s Jordan Murray tried an audacious effort in the 17th minute when he pulled off a spectacular bicycle kick which went straight to the goalkeeper.
The tide turned in the match with the home side appearing to handle the stifling heat better than their opponents.
Murray was unlucky not to score in the 33rd minute when he fired over the bar from close range after a scrappy tussle in the box.
Blacktown City nearly stung APIA on the counter attack after 36 minutes but once again Necevski was up to the task blocking a powerful header from Gibbs.
McColl’s APIA side were left ruing the miss of the game in the 38th minute.
Tasuku Sekiya rounded the goalkeeper and had an empty net to hit from just the edge of the box, but a heroic last gasp block on the goal line from Grant Lynch ensured the scores stayed locked at nil all.
Gibbs hit the back of the net right on the cusp of half time but the assistant referee ruled him offside to keep the scoreless stalemate at the break.
Blacktown raced out of the blocks at the start of the second stanza and it was a moment of brilliance from that man Gibbs in the 47th minute which turned the momentum in the favour of the visitors.
Receiving the ball 30 metres from goal with two defenders to beat, Gibbs moved the ball onto his right foot and unleashed a curling shot which beat Necevski and sailed into the top corner of the net.
It didn’t take long for Blacktown to double their lead. Clut took a brilliant touch on the edge of the box with his back to goal before turning his marker and firing into the left of a diving Necevski to making it 2-0.
Murray missed a gilt-edged chance in the 64th minute when he headed wide of the post after breaking free of the Blacktown defence.
While APIA had the bulk of the chances in the first half, it was a completely different story in the second with Blacktown controlling the flow of the game and peppering the goal with shots.
Blacktown looked to kill out the match in the dying stages but were given a scare in the 90th minute when shot stopper Stevan Savicic was forced to make a double save to deny APIA a late consolation goal.
A jubilant Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden said it was his side’s belief in themselves which helped get them over the line against such tough opposition.
“We turned up today and it was a deserved result,” Crittenden said.
“APIA are a super team and it takes a big performance to beat them. Two cracking goals from Joey (Gibbs) and Clut were very impressive as was their overall game.
“Our attack regularly earns all the plaudits but I think it is our defence which really deserved the praise today. they were very solid and did exceptionally well to keep the clean sheet.
“Our young keeper Stevan (Savicic) also stepped up well today after being given the start.”
For APIA’s coach Billy McColl the match was a story of wasted opportunities.
“Today was a big game against a big team and you have to take your chances,” he said.
“That is exactly what we failed to do and were are left to pay the price.
“We just weren’t clinical and that was the story of the match.
“We’ll back up and be ready to go against Marconi on Wednesday.”
Match Stats
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS: 0
BLACKTOWN CITY FC: 2 (Gibbs 47’ Clut 59’)
March 30, 2018
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: S Lucas
Assistant Referees: M McOrist, R Osbourne
Fourth Official: J Parker
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS FC: 1. Ivan NECEVSKI, 2. Nathan MILLGATE, 4. Josh SYMONS, 7.Howard FONDYKE (12. Marc WARREN 76’), 9. George HOWARD (10. Franco PARISI 67’), 11. Jordan MURRAY, 15. Themba MUATA-MARLOW (6. Zach MACKENZIE 76’), 16. Sean SYMONS, 18. Adrian Ucchino 19. Brandon LUNDY, 20. Tasuku SEKIYA,
Substitues not used: 8. Corey BIZCO, 22. Blake TUXFORD
Yellow Cards: J Symons 53’, Warren 76′
Red Cards: n/a
BLACKTOWN CITY FC: 20. Stevan SAVICIC, 3. Giorgio SPERANZA, 4. Roberto SPERANZA, 5. Grant LYNCH, 6. Matthew LEWIS, 7. Devante CLUT (23. Daniel BRAGG 84’), 8. Daniel ARAUJO, 9. Joey GIBBS (18. Mason VERSI 82’), 10. Connor Evans, 12. Charles MENDY (11. Danny CHOI 67’), 21. Yianni SPYRAKIS
Substitutes not used: 1. Dylan NISKI, 14. Mitch MALLIA,
Yellow Cards: n/a
Red Cards: n/a
Player Ratings
3 – Devante Clut (BCFC)
2 – Grant Lynch (BCFC)
1 – Joey Gibbs (BCFC)
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